马铃薯硝态氮转运蛋白基因的克隆及表达分析

该研究以马铃薯双单倍体‘DM’为材料,克隆到高亲和性硝态氮转运蛋白基因StNRT2.1的全长cDNA(JGI登录号PGSC0003DMT400002924),并对其进行表达模式和生物信息学分析,为深入探索StNRT2.1基因的生物学功能以及提高马铃薯对氮素的利用效率奠定理论基础。结果表明:(1)通过同源克隆与PCR扩增获得StNRT2.1基因cDNA全长片段,并构建pCEGFP-StNRT2.1表达载体;测序结果显示其实际所编码的蛋白质序列与数据库中目的基因蛋白质序列完全一致,表明成功克隆到StNRT2.1基因且未出现错义突变。(2)StNRT2.1基因位于马铃薯第11号染色体,cDNA序列全长1 593 bp,编码530个氨基酸,预测蛋白相对分子质量约为57.60 kD,理论等电点为9.36。(3)生物信息学分析显示,StNRT2.1由20种氨基酸组成,其中甘氨酸(Gly)所占比例最多,达到10.8%,并且主要由228个α-螺旋、27个β-折叠、87个延伸链和188个无规则卷曲构成;StNRT2.1存在功能保守结构MFS_1(PF07690)和12个跨膜螺旋结构域,且N端和C端均位于细胞膜内; StNRT2.1位于质膜上且不具有信号肽,可能为非分泌型膜蛋白。(4)以氮充足(7.5 mmol/L)水平作为对照,马铃薯幼苗经无氮(0 mmol/L)和低氮(0.75 mmol/L)处理3周后呈现出叶片发黄及植株矮化等明显表型差异。(5)qRT-PCR结果显示,在无氮条件下,马铃薯根组织中StNRT2.1基因表达量升高3.98倍,说明StNRT2.1可能为诱导型高亲和转运蛋白。     

A 150 kDa plasma membrane complex of AtNRT2.5 and AtNAR2.1 is the major contributor to constitutive high‐affinity nitrate influx in Arabidopsis thaliana

In plants that have been deprived of nitrate for a significant length of time, a constitutive high‐affinity nitrate transport system (cHATS) is responsible for initial nitrate uptake. This absorbed nitrate leads to the induction of the major nitrate transporters and enzymes involved in nitrate assimilation. By use of ¹³NO₃^– influx measurements and Blue Native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis we examined the role of AtNRT2.5 in cHATS in wild type (WT) and various T‐DNA mutants of Arabidopsis thaliana. We demonstrate that AtNRT2.5 is predominantly expressed in roots of nitrate‐deprived WT plants as a 150 kDa molecular complex with AtNAR2.1. This complex represents the major contributor to cHATS influx, which is reduced by 63% compared with WT in roots of Atnrt2.5 mutants. The remaining cHATS nitrate influx in these mutants is due to a residual contribution by the inducible high‐affinity transporter encoded by AtNRT2.1/AtNAR2.1. Estimates of the kinetic properties of the NRT2.5 transporter reveal that its low K_m for nitrate makes this transporter ideally suited to detect and respond to trace quantities of nitrate in the root environment.     

Nitrate and glutamate as environmental cues for behavioural responses in plant roots

As roots explore the soil, they encounter a complex and fluctuating environment in which the different edaphic resources (water and nutrients) are heterogeneously distributed in space and time. Many plant species are able to respond to this heterogeneity by modifying their root system development, such that they colonize the most resource-rich patches of soil. The complexities of these responses, and their dependence on the implied ability to perceive and integrate multiple external signals, would seem to amply justify the term 'behaviour'. This review will consider the types of behaviour that are elicited in roots of Arabidopsis thaliana by exposure to variations in the external concentrations and distribution of two different N compounds, nitrate and glutamate. Molecular genetic studies have revealed an intricate N regulatory network at the root tip that is responsible for orchestrating changes in root growth rate and root architecture to accommodate variations in the extrinsic and intrinsic supply of N. The review will discuss what is known of the genetic basis for these responses and speculate on their physiological and ecological significance.     

A putative transporter is essential for integrating nutrient and hormone signaling with lateral root growth and nodule development in Medicago truncatula

Legume root architecture involves not only elaboration of the root system by the formation of lateral roots but also the formation of symbiotic root nodules in association with nitrogen‐fixing soil rhizobia. The Medicago truncatula LATD/NIP gene plays an essential role in the development of both primary and lateral roots as well as nodule development. We have cloned the LATD/NIP gene and show that it encodes a member of the NRT1(PTR) transporter family. LATD/NIP is expressed throughout the plant. pLATD/NIP‐GFP promoter–reporter fusions in transgenic roots establish the spatial expression of LATD/NIP in primary root, lateral root and nodule meristems and the surrounding cells. Expression of LATD/NIP is regulated by hormones, in particular by abscisic acid which has been previously shown to rescue the primary and lateral root meristem arrest of latd mutants. latd mutants respond normally to ammonium but have defects in responses of the root architecture to nitrate. Taken together, these results suggest that LATD/NIP may encode a nitrate transporter or transporter of another compound.     

Nitrate transporters and peptide transporters

In higher plants, two types of nitrate transporters, NRT1 and NRT2, have been identified. In Arabidopsis, there are 53 NRT1 genes and 7 NRT2 genes. NRT2 are high-affinity nitrate transporters, while most members of the NRT1 family are low-affinity nitrate transporters. The exception is CHL1 (AtNRT1.1), which is a dual-affinity nitrate transporter, its mode of action being switched by phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of threonine 101. Two of the NRT1 genes, CHL1 and AtNRT1.2, and two of the NRT2 genes, AtNRT2.1 and AtNRT2.2, are known to be involved in nitrate uptake. In addition, AtNRT1.4 is required for petiole nitrate storage. On the other hand, some members of the NRT1 family are dipeptide transporters, called PTRs, which transport a broad spectrum of di/tripeptides. In barley, HvPTR1, expressed in the plasma membrane of scutellar epithelial cells, is involved in mobilizing peptides, produced by hydrolysis of endosperm storage protein, to the developing embryo. In higher plants, there is another family of peptide transporters, called oligopeptide transporters (OPTs), which transport tetra/pentapeptides. In addition, some OPTs transport GSH, GSSH, GSH conjugates, phytochelatins, and metals.